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140
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[Vol. XXXI Briva tsa 36, Vädhüla 2, Värdhasva 2, Vasishtha 18. The sakhas and sūtras represented are Rik, Ysjus, Bodhayana, Känva, Jaimini and Samana. The donees came from different villages and have names often in Sanskrit and popular dialects combined. A detailed scrutiny of the list, with reference to similar information in other records, is likely to throw welcome light on the question of the migration of the scholarly families and the literary services rendered by the individuals of the different sects and schools.
The language is Sanskrit and the whole text is in verse. The introductory portion is in different metres; but verses 33-343 which enumerate the donees and their shares are in Anushţubh. Verses 344-52 are again in different metres. The first thirteen of the introductory stanzas ending with the expression parkti-rathadeiva, are not available as that plate was not received in the Government Epigraphist's office. The remaining stanzas are 321 and cover lines 1-67. The first six verses (lines 1-18) carry the genealogy down to Vira-Narasimha, the elder brother of Krishnadēvarāya. Verses 7-16 (lines 18-42) eulogize the ruling king Krishnadēvarāya and are identical with verses 20-29 of the Hampe inscription of S. 1430 (1508 A. D.) with a single change in verse 14 (line 37), where we have Virapratāpa ity-ādi instead of Gandabhērunda ity-ādi of the Hampe record. The beautiful prose passage, which describes the king immediately after these stanzas in the Hampe record is absent in the present epigraph. Lines 43-45 give the date of the grant in words. It is Salivāhana-Saka 1447, Parthiva, Phālguna su. 12 corresponding to the 24th February, 1526 A.D. Lines 45-48 (verses 19-20) mention the place of the donation and the illustrious teacher to whom it was made. It was a royal order to the people of Ghanagirdrājya to the effect that, in the Vitthalēsvara temple on the bank of the Tungabhadra, the grant was made to Vyåsatirtha who was the disciple of Brahmanyatirtha and had a mind exclusively devoted to the contemplation of Brahman and who had written commentaries on all the Sastras. Then follows, in lines 49-60 (verses 21-28), a description of the village granted and its boundaries. It was in Koyyakuriki-simā and Mukkuțla-sthala, east of the village of Pullakulvā, south-east of Gutivādā, south of Kundalapāțuku, south-west of Gräkätalakalvå, west of Bovindapalvā, north-west of Ganganāyanapalli, north of Mallakkumatuku, and north-east of Valūru. With it were clubbed the villages of Gitapalli, Kammachiyu, Kandukuru, Rama and Guramvayalu. It was known as Betfakonda and Vyāsasamudra and renamed Kộishņarayapuram. Lines 60-67 (verses 28-32) give the usual formula of the sarvamänya tenure and conclude with the statement that it was granted by the king Krishnadēva-mahārāya with dakshiņā and the pouring of water. Then follows, in lines 68-508 (verses 33-343), a long list of householders and scholars, amongst whom Vyāsatirtha distributed the shares of the endowed lands. Lines 509-13 (verses 341-46) give the usual formula regarding Kpishṇadevarāya's gifts and state that the sūsana was composed by Sabhäpati and engraved by Viraņācharya, son of Mallana. Verses 347-52 form the usual imprecation. The record ends with the royal sign-manual Sri-Virupaksha in Kannada characters in line 522.
The village named Bettakonda or Kșishṇarāyapura no longer exists; but Vyasasamudra and Kandukūru are well-known even today. Kandukūru is a village 27 miles to the west-northwest of Madanapalli, formerly included in the Cuddapah District and now in Chittoor. Its gift as an inäm by Krishnadevaraya to a priest was noted decades ago by the compiler of the Madras Manual of Administration (Glossary, p. 442). The historic importance of the place is clear from two old Vishnu temples in it. Vyāsasamudra is a big tank close to Kandukuru. The other villages and hamlets named in the grant are not traceable now. Mukkutla-sthala is probably the Bame as Gutlasthalam in Madanapalli Taluk. Pullakulvä may be identified with Pulikallu, and Böyinda palvå with the Boyakunda rock to the south-west of the hamlet of Pullaguțlaväripalle near Pedda-Tippasamudram which is five miles off Kandukuru.
[Soe p. 139, note 3.-Ed.) * Above Vol. I, pp. 361 ff.
